<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SPRINGFIELD, MA - Six-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill will be honored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with a locker dedication on Friday, July 15 at 4:00 pm. The locker dedication will recognize Hill's accomplishments and contributions to game of basketball. The locker will be unveiled in a special ceremony as part of the two-day festivities July 15th and 16th and is FREE with admission to the Basketball Hall of Fame. On Saturday, July 16th, fans of Grant Hill can enjoy a meet and greet appearance, basketball clinic and autograph session by the NBA All-Star. The locker dedication ceremony, to be held on the Hall of Fame?s Center Court, will feature comments by Grant Hill regarding the special honor. Hill's locker will be displayed in the prestigious sports museum highlighting his on and off-court accomplishments including jerseys, memorabilia, and awards received throughout his career. Grant?s visit will coincide with the current exhibition of his collection of African American art that has been touring the country and is currently on display at the Hall of Fame through September 10th in the Special Exhibits Gallery. The 46 piece exhibit entitled Something All Our Own: The Grant Hill Collection of African American Art, features paintings and sculptures including work by some of the most beloved African American artists of the 20th century such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, John Biggers, and more. Hill, a 6'8", six-time NBA All-Star, began his most impressive career at Duke University winning back-to-back NCAA Championships (1991 &1992). In his senior year, he was named a unanimous first team All-America, NCAA All-Tournament and NCAA Southeastern Regional MVP. Grant was the #1 pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 1994 NBA Draft. He has also been named NBA Rookie of the Year and was a member of the Gold Medal winning Dream Team III representing Team USA at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. After spending six highly productive years with the Pistons, Grant signed on with the Orlando Magic in 2000. Playing just a total of 47 games the previous three seasons, Grant finally was able to stay healthy in his fourth season with Magic. What Grant accomplished in the 2004-05 season was nothing of miraculous averaging 19.7 points per game, shooting 50.7 percent, playing 39.4 minutes per game and making the All-Star team on his rebuilt ankle. For his remarkable efforts on and off the court this season, Grant was named the 2004-2005 NBA Sportsmanship Award for his ?sportsmanship, ethical behavior, fair play and integrity.? ?We are thrilled to recognize Mr. Hill for his accomplishments on the court as a basketball player as well as his accomplishments off the court as a role model?, said John Doleva, president and CEO of the Hall of Fame. "Players in the NBA serve as role models to our youth, yet Grant has gone above and beyond to motivate and showcase positive influences to all who look up to him". This will mark the third locker to be dedicated to an individual at the new Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The other dedications include University of Connecticut and Charlotte Bobcats star Emeka Okafor and Entertainer Bill Cosby.</div> Source
